Tag: children

Summer Teeth

How To Keep Your Child’s Teeth Healthy This Summer

Summer can be a fun time for your child, but it can be a difficult time on their teeth for a number of different reasons. However, if you’re cognizant of the risks and make a dedicated plan to protect your child’s teeth, we’re confident that their teeth will make it through the summer no worse for the wear. Below, we outline some of the ways summer can challenge their teeth and what you can do to prevent problems.

Summer and Your Child’s Teeth

Here’s a look at how you can keep your child’s teeth healthy over the summer months.

  1. Stick to a Routine – With school out for the summer and the longer daylight hours, you may be less likely to stick to a regular schedule that involves a cooling down period before brushing their teeth and going to bed. Even though you’re not in a normal routine during the summer, it’s important that oral hygiene and brushing teeth remain an everyday part of the plan. If you’re camping in the back yard or your child is sleeping over at a friend’s house, make sure you remind them of the importance of brushing their teeth. If they get out of the habit now, it’s going to be tough to get them back in the habit of doing it in the morning and night when school is back in session.
  2. Stop the Sugary Sodas and Sweets – Summer can be a time to indulge in some sweet treats, but don’t make them a daily occurrence. If you’re giving your child juice in the morning, a freezy pop at lunch and then M&M’s as an afternoon snack, you’re overloading your child’s teeth with sugar. Let your children tell you when they are hungry for a snack instead of thrusting snack options upon them between meals, and pack healthier options like fruits or veggies. Also, make sure water is their most consumed beverage this season. A small gatorade or juice pouch is fine here or there, but it shouldn’t happen with each meal, otherwise their teeth will be prone to cavities.
  1. Schedule Your Back To School Dental Appointment Early – Summer is oftentimes the easiest time for parents to get their kids to the dentist’s office, but it’s also our busiest time of the year. We’re going to do everything we can to get you in as soon as possible, but we’re starting to book out pretty far, so call now to set up that back to school appointment in August or September. If you forget, ask about getting on our cancellation list. When people cancel last minute, we try to fill their appointment from our cancellation list, so we may reach out to you to see if you can come in tomorrow or even later that day. It’s easier to just schedule your appointment in advance, but if you have a flexible schedule and want to get in as soon as possible, ask about getting on the cancellation call list.

If you follow these tips, we’re confident that your child will be able to have strong teeth throughout the summer and into the next school year. If you want to set up that next appointment or if you have questions, give us a call today at (952) 888-2300.

Teething Child Health

Teething & Your Child’s Teeth

All 20 of your child’s primary teeth are present at birth below the gumline, and they start to make an appearance in their mouth around the age of six months. It can be an exciting time when your child’s teeth begin to come in, but it also presents parents with new challenges. Below, we explain what you can expect during the teething stage, and how to protect your child’s teeth as they grow.

Teething Basics

As we noted above, teething usually begins around six months of age, but other children may not get their first tooth until they are closer to the age of one. By three years of age, most children have their full set of baby teeth in place.

It’s not very difficult to notice when your child is teething, because it can cause them some general discomfort in their mouth. Infants make this discomfort known by crying, fussing, becoming more irritable and drooling more than usual. You may also notice that your child wants to put more objects in their mouth, like their hands or a teething ring. However, if you notice symptoms like a fever or diarrhea, bring your child into a medical facility.

Teething rings are perfectly safe for your child, so long as you keep some tips in mind. First, make sure they are made of safe materials or have a seal of approval from a licensed medical or safety commission. Stick to rings made of plastic or rubber, and avoid anything that has metal or liquid that could be punctured by a sharp tooth.

Medicated Gels or Tablets For Teething Pain

Some parents want to calm irritated babies and help them find some comfort by looking into medication options during the teething stages. However, the Food and Drug Administration recommends that parents do not use products containing benzocaine on children under the age of two, stating:

“We are also warning that benzocaine oral drug products should only be used in adults and children two years and older if they contain certain warnings on the label. These products carry serious risks and provide little to no benefits for treating oral pain, including sore gums in infants due to teething.”

Parents should also avoid homeopathic teething tablets, as an FDA report found they can oftentimes underreport the amount of toxic substances found on the tablet.

No parent wants to see their child in discomfort, but teething is a natural part of growing up, and it is more discomfort than true pain – your baby just has a difficult time deciphering between the two and expressing their feelings. Work to sooth your child in other ways than medication, and invest in FDA approved teething rings to help give them something to focus their attention on. Keep an eye on how their teeth are coming in, and remember that thumbsucking and pacifier use are still completely normal during this time. If you notice anything strange or just want answers to your questions about your child’s new teeth, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr. Brooks’ office today.